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Robin (1991, 1993-2009) #10
Robin: Wanted
When he is framed for Batgirl's murder, Robin tries to find out who really killed her, an investigation that leads him into a confrontation with the new leader of the League of Assassins.
Library Binding
First published March 21, 2007
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About the author
Adam Beechen
322 books10 followersFor more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Bee...
Writer Adam Beechen is the author of several comic books, including Robin and Justice League Unlimited . Adam also writes for tv on such shows as Teen Titans, The Batman and is the story editor on HiHi Puffy Ami Yumi for Cartoon Network.
Writer Adam Beechen is the author of several comic books, including Robin and Justice League Unlimited . Adam also writes for tv on such shows as Teen Titans, The Batman and is the story editor on HiHi Puffy Ami Yumi for Cartoon Network.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 18, 2012
The character takes a severe left turn, and begins doing things completely out of character, which brings down the ability to enjoy this book at all.
February 6, 2021
Eh, something of a slog as Robin gets a bit grittier but still keeps his innocence.
December 19, 2024
Any fan of Cassandra Cain knows that Robin: Wanted is an infamously hated story arc that's said to have derailed her character for over a decade. Despite knowing the deep disdain Cass fans had for this story, which sees her become the ludicrously evil leader of the League of Assassins, I still wasn't fully prepared for just how bad it was. If you've read Cass's Batgirl run it's clear that this turn was out of left field. But piercing through interviews from the time it's interesting to parse what problems in this story were misguided editorial mandate and what stemmed from poor writing by Adam Beechen.
The first problem with Robin: Wanted is its framing. The decision to tell a story about Batgirl going rogue in a four issue arc in a Robin book is baffling. It indicates that DC editorial saw Cass as a secondary character that could be radically changed and discarded in a side book rather than a significant character in her own right whose relationship with the wider bat-family would require in-depth exploration if she went so far off the rails. And because the story is from Tim's perspective we lack crucial pieces of information about why Cass making choices that could better contextualize her switch. Further we don't see how other characters she was much closer to than Tim, like Batman and Oracle who became her pseudo-parental figures to Cass, respond to her turn. All of this makes the story feel half written and poorly conceptualized but none of the blame there lies with Adam Beechen who had no control over these aspects of the story.
The bigger problem with Wanted was how poorly executed the concept was. I think my most controversial take might be that there's a version of Wanted that could have worked. The question of what set of circumstances could lead Cass to killing again is interesting. And aspects of the answer provided in this story could have been told well. But unfortunately pretty much everything about how they chose to tell it was uncompelling at best and utterly nonsensical at worst.
The explanation for Cass turning evil and joining the League of Assassins is her learning dad had a secret daughter. This somehow caused Cass to have a mental break and abandon all of her core values. No attempt Beechen makes to explain this turn makes even a lick of sense. The idea that Cass was somehow fuelled, motivated, or kept sane by the idea that David Cain solely loved her is deeply incongruous with her character. And honestly finding out you have a secret sister turning you evil would be a dumb writing for any character. From this point Cass just devolves into a mustache-twirling dragon lady. Her reasoning continues to make no sense and none of how the story resolves itself is remotely satisfying.
I could keep going on about every little thing I hated in Wanted but I honestly don't think it's worth it. At the end of the day this story exists the way it does because DC editorial wanted Cassandra gone and Adam Beechen didn't care to write her turn to villainy in a way that was true to any aspect of her character. And I've reached a point were belabouring every single way it fails doesn't bring me much satisfaction.
The first problem with Robin: Wanted is its framing. The decision to tell a story about Batgirl going rogue in a four issue arc in a Robin book is baffling. It indicates that DC editorial saw Cass as a secondary character that could be radically changed and discarded in a side book rather than a significant character in her own right whose relationship with the wider bat-family would require in-depth exploration if she went so far off the rails. And because the story is from Tim's perspective we lack crucial pieces of information about why Cass making choices that could better contextualize her switch. Further we don't see how other characters she was much closer to than Tim, like Batman and Oracle who became her pseudo-parental figures to Cass, respond to her turn. All of this makes the story feel half written and poorly conceptualized but none of the blame there lies with Adam Beechen who had no control over these aspects of the story.
The bigger problem with Wanted was how poorly executed the concept was. I think my most controversial take might be that there's a version of Wanted that could have worked. The question of what set of circumstances could lead Cass to killing again is interesting. And aspects of the answer provided in this story could have been told well. But unfortunately pretty much everything about how they chose to tell it was uncompelling at best and utterly nonsensical at worst.
The explanation for Cass turning evil and joining the League of Assassins is her learning dad had a secret daughter. This somehow caused Cass to have a mental break and abandon all of her core values. No attempt Beechen makes to explain this turn makes even a lick of sense. The idea that Cass was somehow fuelled, motivated, or kept sane by the idea that David Cain solely loved her is deeply incongruous with her character. And honestly finding out you have a secret sister turning you evil would be a dumb writing for any character. From this point Cass just devolves into a mustache-twirling dragon lady. Her reasoning continues to make no sense and none of how the story resolves itself is remotely satisfying.
I could keep going on about every little thing I hated in Wanted but I honestly don't think it's worth it. At the end of the day this story exists the way it does because DC editorial wanted Cassandra gone and Adam Beechen didn't care to write her turn to villainy in a way that was true to any aspect of her character. And I've reached a point were belabouring every single way it fails doesn't bring me much satisfaction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2020
Robin #148-153.
Beechen and Williams are very good storytellers. They both have a knack for character and seem to be on exactly the same page regarding the tone of the book. The stories zip by, combining all the best elements of Robin: the detective stuff, the teen slice-of-life stuff, the adventure stuff. Even the representation of a teenager soldiering on and remaining positive in the face of grief plays very well here. The last two issues, where Tim and Boomerang Jr team up to find a nuke in an abandoned villain lair, were a madcap mystery adventure with ordinary teen scenes mixed in and a well-done emotional arc, so it was basically my ideal Robin story.
My issues with the book come from the direction taken with Cassandra and Cain. I'm sure it was editorially mandated (as has been undoubtedly true for many of the worst elements of this series). But god, this character twist makes no damn sense. I thought it might link up with the last issues of the Batgirl series that ended just before this, but having just read those, the whole thing makes LESS sense. Big moments are at odds with what just happened in that book, not to mention how illogical the character turn is.
Funnily enough, when I first read this book (probably over a decade ago), I had no idea who Cain or Cassandra or Shiva or Nyssa were, so I was confused. And yet, now that I'm intimately familiar with all those characters, I'm equally baffled.
I'm glad this plot thread exits the series after that opening arc (it gets retconned in "Teen Titans: Titans East" and the character seeks redemption in "Batgirl: Redemption"). Otherwise, these creators have made the type of Robin comic I want to read and I'm almost certain I'll love the next volume.
Beechen and Williams are very good storytellers. They both have a knack for character and seem to be on exactly the same page regarding the tone of the book. The stories zip by, combining all the best elements of Robin: the detective stuff, the teen slice-of-life stuff, the adventure stuff. Even the representation of a teenager soldiering on and remaining positive in the face of grief plays very well here. The last two issues, where Tim and Boomerang Jr team up to find a nuke in an abandoned villain lair, were a madcap mystery adventure with ordinary teen scenes mixed in and a well-done emotional arc, so it was basically my ideal Robin story.
My issues with the book come from the direction taken with Cassandra and Cain. I'm sure it was editorially mandated (as has been undoubtedly true for many of the worst elements of this series). But god, this character twist makes no damn sense. I thought it might link up with the last issues of the Batgirl series that ended just before this, but having just read those, the whole thing makes LESS sense. Big moments are at odds with what just happened in that book, not to mention how illogical the character turn is.
Funnily enough, when I first read this book (probably over a decade ago), I had no idea who Cain or Cassandra or Shiva or Nyssa were, so I was confused. And yet, now that I'm intimately familiar with all those characters, I'm equally baffled.
I'm glad this plot thread exits the series after that opening arc (it gets retconned in "Teen Titans: Titans East" and the character seeks redemption in "Batgirl: Redemption"). Otherwise, these creators have made the type of Robin comic I want to read and I'm almost certain I'll love the next volume.
January 7, 2026
Read this in November and forgot to add it ANYWAY I hate this because the writer completely mischaracterised my favourite character Cassandra Cain. Adam Beechen fully admitted he didn’t read any of Cass’s previous appearances when writing this comic. He turned her into a cruel crazy assassin when she’s always been against killing and a gentle soul since her first appearance. Very lazy to not do any research on the character you’re writing about.
February 9, 2010
I would be very angry about Cassandra's apparent evil-doing in this trade if I hadn't read comics in the future of this already.
Sometimes, having been spoiled in advance is nice.
Sometimes, having been spoiled in advance is nice.
April 12, 2020
Robin: Wanted is a trade paperback that collects six issues (Robin #148–153) of the 1993 series and covers one-story: "Boy Wanted".
"Boy Wanted" is a six-issue storyline (Robin #148–153) that finds Tim Drake as Robin takes on the League of Assassins with Cassandra Cain, formally Batgirl, as his main antagonist, who has apparently gone crazy or turned evil. There is also an interesting team-up with Owen Mercer as Captain Boomerang who murdered his father. This storyline takes place during the One Year Later event.
Adam Beechen penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written moderately well. Beechen's Tim Drake feels immediately more natural than his predecessors. Tim Drake gets framed for murder and has to break into police headquarters to prove his innocence. There's a fantastic, frenetic pace that is rather grounded in the overall Batman universe. Robin is depicted here as both a hero and a detective befitting both his time on the job.
Which the exception of one issue (Robin #148), which was penciled by Karl Kerschl, Freddie E. Williams II penciled the entire trade paperback. Since he was the main penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, I enjoyed his penciling style and it complements Kerschl's penciling somewhat well.
All in all, Robin: Wanted is a mediocre continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
"Boy Wanted" is a six-issue storyline (Robin #148–153) that finds Tim Drake as Robin takes on the League of Assassins with Cassandra Cain, formally Batgirl, as his main antagonist, who has apparently gone crazy or turned evil. There is also an interesting team-up with Owen Mercer as Captain Boomerang who murdered his father. This storyline takes place during the One Year Later event.
Adam Beechen penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written moderately well. Beechen's Tim Drake feels immediately more natural than his predecessors. Tim Drake gets framed for murder and has to break into police headquarters to prove his innocence. There's a fantastic, frenetic pace that is rather grounded in the overall Batman universe. Robin is depicted here as both a hero and a detective befitting both his time on the job.
Which the exception of one issue (Robin #148), which was penciled by Karl Kerschl, Freddie E. Williams II penciled the entire trade paperback. Since he was the main penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, I enjoyed his penciling style and it complements Kerschl's penciling somewhat well.
All in all, Robin: Wanted is a mediocre continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
September 9, 2020
Adam Beechen and Freddie Williams tell a very good Robin story that has gravitas. Instead of being an afterthought, Tim matters. The "One Year Later" storyline is good here because I didn't like where the book was going. Tim's decisions here make sense in a teenage sidekick type of way. I really enjoyed Beechen's Robin and Williams' art was great. Overall, a very exciting read.
Read
July 6, 2025ignoring the straight up offensive level of character assassination done to Cass (something that’s only possible to ignore knowing that it’s later retconned), I do like where Robin is at “one year later”. his detective abilities are at the forefront, his relationship with Bruce is at a good place, and there’s a real emphasis on the batfamily being exactly that: a family
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October 31, 2023Kind of didn’t seem like it wrapped up very well
August 6, 2007
I liked what Bill Willingham was doing with Robin before Infinite Crisis and One Year Later took over. Robin was standing up to Batman, and stepping out of his shadow.
Willingham must’ve gotten annoyed with DC crossovers—Robin’s dad died in Identity Crisis, which led to Tim Drake leaving Gotham for Bludhaven, then Bludhaven got killed in Infinite Crisis.
Adam Beechen did a great job on the Justice League Unlimited books, but his storyline, revolving around Robin being accused of killing Batgirl, isn’t that well thought out. Robin storming a Gotham precinct didn’t make much sense, and the revamp of Batgirl seems to undue any development that character made.
DC’s One Year Later jump seems like a gamble for books, with new creative teams and storyline coming out of nowhere, and I don’t like where Robin’s going.
Freddie Williams II’s art reminds me a little of Ed McGuinness, and was fun to look at.
Willingham must’ve gotten annoyed with DC crossovers—Robin’s dad died in Identity Crisis, which led to Tim Drake leaving Gotham for Bludhaven, then Bludhaven got killed in Infinite Crisis.
Adam Beechen did a great job on the Justice League Unlimited books, but his storyline, revolving around Robin being accused of killing Batgirl, isn’t that well thought out. Robin storming a Gotham precinct didn’t make much sense, and the revamp of Batgirl seems to undue any development that character made.
DC’s One Year Later jump seems like a gamble for books, with new creative teams and storyline coming out of nowhere, and I don’t like where Robin’s going.
Freddie Williams II’s art reminds me a little of Ed McGuinness, and was fun to look at.
February 26, 2008
No words can express my love for this book. Williams art if perfect, Beechen's story is very entertaining...are grown women supposed to be into 'young action hero's' this much? This book will definitely make many women 'Robin fans'.
Read
May 11, 2008One Year Later
January 28, 2012
Amazingly drawn, and very well written. Had I not managed to pick up one of the singles I really would have been on the edge of my seat.
May 3, 2012
I like the artwork. Story was fine.
August 23, 2012
Cute, cute. But I don't get what they did to Cassandra's character over here. I liked the Captain Boomerang Jr.'s part, though.
March 2, 2014
Every other word is in bold. This makes it pretty much unreadable.
October 4, 2014
Like the art not excited with the stories(Its not bad stories but its not anything special either)
March 30, 2016
Screwed up my favorite DC character in a ridiculous fashion. Not surprised that Beechen is one of the "geniuses" behind Countdown after this mess.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews